February 29, 2016 
 
Bingo Night Date Change

Please note that Bingo Family Night will now be held on Thursday, April 14th at 6pm in the MUR at Ormondale.
 
Update on John Bamber and How to Help

Dear Families,

Most of you will know by now about the YouCaring crowdfunding page that was set up by PVSD parent, Matt Richter, for John Bamber, our much-loved Ormondale custodian and ever-patient director of school traffic.  John is now beginning his rehabilitation after a very serious motorbike accident on Januaryy 18th of this year.

To date, there has been an astounding outpouring of generosity for John which is testimony to his status in our school and our greater community.

Here is a link to the fundraising page for those who might like to contribute: https://www.youcaring.com/john-bamber-527408#.Vs03_cWiMrs.facebook 

Thank you,
PVSD PTO

Help Purchase Classroom Supplies with Amazon and eScrip 

Each year the PVSD PTO pays for classroom supplies for every student in the district using funds raised through the eScrip and Amazon.com programs.

To make ensure your Amazon purchases contribute towards our schools,
simply click here: Amazon.com, then bookmark the page and use that bookmark to start your shopping trips on Amazon.com. You must enter the website through this specific link. Portola Valley School District PTO will receive a minimum of 4% of every purchase made through this method and you should see no difference in your shopping experience. 

And don't forget to sign up for eScrip! Just go to www.escrip.com and register your credit cards and Bianchini's loyalty card. Please make sure to direct donations to the Portola Valley School District PTO. Then just shop at local participating merchants, like Bianchini's (use your loyalty card registered with eScrip) and PV Garage (ask to contribute through eScrip when at PV Garage). PV Garage is the only auto repair shop within 66 miles of PV that participates in eScrip and Bianchini's is the only grocery store in our area that supports our schools through eScrip.


Ormondale Upcoming Events

Monday, Feb. 29th - Friday, Mar. 4th - Second Harvest Food Drive

Monday, Mar. 21st - Friday, Mar. 25th - Staff Appreciation Week

View the full PTO calendar here. 
 
Ormondale Thank Yous!
Thank you to Second Grade Parents for Help with Super Staff Lunch! 

I loved seeing the expressions on the Staff's faces as they looked at the delicious lunch provided by second grade parents this week.

Delicious soups, salads, drinks and desserts from:  Laura Dahl, Sarah Dorahy, Heidi Richards, Karen Urbanek, Lori Palazzolo, Korinn Myers, Renata Dionello, Teri Wolf, Sheryl Harari, Sharon Shaffer,  Maria Causor, Janine Carver 

Attentive help in the pick-up line and on the cross walk from: 
Caroline Diarte Edwards,  Hayley Leinfelder, Lori Palazzolo, and Lisa Giblin

Lots of help on extra details - Sarah Dorahy 

Many thanks to those who helped!  

Super Food: Yogurt

Yogurt, Yogurt Everywhere! 
By: Students in Mrs. Wong's Second Grade Class

Did you know that a yogurt factory can produce 230,000 cups of yogurt in an hour? That's a lot of YOGURT!  YUM!!!!  Americans eat over 1 million cups of yogurt each year.  This yummy food became popular in the 1970s.  Yogurt has been around for thousands of years.  This superfood has calcium and protein in it.  One cup of yogurt has 7-9 grams of protein in it.  Remember to eat low fat or nonfat yogurt with less than 20 grams of sugar.  Yogurt also helps take away bad breath along with helping to whiten your teeth and fight cavities.  Finally, yogurt helps with your digestive system.  So remember to eat yogurt because it tastes good and it's healthy for your body.

Greek Yogurt Mac & Cheese (serves 4)  There's no added butter or flour!
  • 2 cups dry elbows or small pasta (7 oz)
  • 2 cups shredded cheese, such as Daiya
  • 1/2 cup milk of choice
  • 1/8 tsp to 1/4 tsp salt (I used 1/4 tsp)
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened Greek yogurt - I used dairy-free homemade Greek yogurt
  • optional: spinach, kale, or any other steamed veggies you might wish to add
Greek Yogurt Mac & Cheese Recipe Directions:
  1. Cook the macaroni in salted water until al dente, then drain but don't rinse with water.
  2. Meanwhile, in a small pot, stir together the milk, cheese, and salt until cheese melts. Add the yogurt and cook on low, just until the sauce is hot. Stir in the cooked pasta and any veggies you desire.
Corte Madera

Corte Madera Upcoming Events

Monday, Feb. 29th - Friday, Mar. 4th - Second Harvest Food Drive

Friday, Feb. 26th, 7 to 9pm - 6th, 7th and 8th Grade Dance in the MUR

Thursday, March 3rd - PTO Mtg. at CMS; 9am

Friday, March 4th - Corte Madera 6-8th BBQ Lunch

Monday-Friday, March 14th-18th - Corte Madera Staff Appreciation Week

View the full PTO calendar here.

Portola Valley Schools Foundation

Thank You to our Business Partners!

 

Thank You Business Partners!

Platinum Partners - $10,000
Ginny Kavanaugh, Realtor*
Terri Kerwin, Kerwin + Associates
Portola Valley Garage

Silver - $3,000
CSI Custom Homes

Silver - $2,500
Angela Boutique
Bianchini's Market
Roberts Market
Village Square Veterinary Hospital*

Bronze - $2,000
Lola Sue Crawford, Coldwell Banker

Bronze - $1,500
Alice's Restaurant

Bronze - $1,250
Dean Asborno, Alain Pinel Realtors*
Loren Dakin, Alain Pinel Realtors
Mary & Brent Gullixson, Alain Pinel Realtors
Pollock Financial Group*
The Symon Group, Alain Pinel Realtors
Westridge Wealth Strategies

Copper - $500
Darci Reimund Designs
DBLin Construction
Jared's Custom Homes
McNair Group Real Estate Advisors

Supporter - $250
Alpine Optometry
Ladera Cleaners
Ladera Garden & Gifts
Konditorei*

* 6th year participant in the Business Partner Program


Community News
 

Office Hours with Denise Pope
Creekside Learning Lab invites you to a rare opportunity to meet in an intimate setting with a leading thinker in the field of education reform.   

Creekside is very excited to host Denise Pope, author, co-founder of Challenge Success, and Senior Lecturer at Stanford University School of Education on Thursday, March 17th from 8:30 - 10am.  

Denise Pope will lead a short discussion on parenting challenges and solutions for 3rd - 5th graders.  The remainder of the time will be devoted to answering parents' questions.  

To register visit Creekside's website at: www.creeksidelearninglab.org.  Space is limited.  

The event will be held at Creekside's campus, which is located in Portola Valley's Village Square.  

Make Dreams Come True...Donate Dresses or Accessories!


The Menlo-Atherton High School Key Club is sponsoring a dress and accessories drive to benefit The Princess Project. The Princess Project promotes self-confidence and individual beauty by providing free prom dresses and accessories to high school girls who cannot otherwise afford them. With your help over 1,100 girls will be served by Princess Project Silicon Valley dress giveaways this Spring!
 
Ideal donations include long or short, formal gowns from 2010 to new in excellent condition and in all sizes and colors.
Accessories should be stylish, clean and in excellent condition.
 
Where to Donate: 180 Crescent Avenue in Portola Valley
When: Anytime through Friday, March 4th
Contact: If you would prefer for us to pick up your donations or need a donation receipt please e-mail Sally Carlson at sally@carlsonland.com

The Little Mermaid at Woodside High School


SEA-FARING ADVENTURE, ROMANCE, AND FUN COMES TO WOODSIDE HIGH SCHOOL, with Disney's "The Little Mermaid". Captivating for all ages, this Broadway-style production will tug at your heart-strings and delight your funny-bone, with magical music to set your spirits soaring. The classic tale follows Ariel the Mermaid as she struggles to join Prince Eric, along with side-kick Flounder (CM alumni Philip Moissis) and a charming cast of undersea creatures, salty sailors, and villainous predators including mersister and CM Alumna Lucy Bock. 

Dates: Performances at 7:30 pm on March 11th, 12th, 18th, & 19th, with two matinees at 2pm on March 13th & 20th. 

Purchase tickets online at www.whsdramaboosters.org, or call 650-367-9750 (x43706).

Portola Valley Library Events Feb 29th - March 5th

        
A Streaming Event With YA Author Marissa Meyer

Date: Tuesday, 03/01/16 at 6:30 pm
Ages: Teens (13-18 years)
Come to the Portola Valley Library for a live streaming event with Marissa Meyer, bestselling author of the Young Adult fantasy series, The Lunar Chronicles (Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, Winter, and Fairest: Levana's Story). Join us for a live, virtual discussion about fairy tales, cyberpunk, and what she's got planned next!

The Library Talks is an initiative to bring authors to California libraries through shared virtual visit. The Library Talks brings your favorite authors to your library via live video conferencing. Hear them talk and read in real time, and ask them your questions.

LARP at the Town Center


LARP sample day will be held for children 7 and up 

Date: This Friday, March 4th 3:30-5:30PM at Town Center
Fee: $10/student.

LARP (short for "Live- Action Role Playing) is a game that combines theater and storytelling with swordplay and physical activity. Players take on the role of a hero in a Tolkien-styled game world and set out to try to solve its plot. The rules system is essentially an expanded version of freeze tag. The battle itself is a tag system and does not use physical force - in fact, excessive physical force is discouraged. The weapons are props made of foam and duct tape, and are soft and squishy so that swordfighting can happen safely. This Fantasy Warplay is designed specifically for kids and is intended as an educational activity. It encourages critical thinking and problem-solving, empathy and social skills, confidence and teamwork, and a host of other such life skills. The story is very player-driven and has been ongoing for nearly thirty years now, evolving and growing as the players do. For more information, check out www.fanwar.com.

Please contact Kimberly Taylor register. 

All Students Matter

Classroom Volunteers Needed:  Have you enjoyed volunteering in your child's classroom? Then consider visiting a classroom in east Menlo Park or East Palo Alto where there are virtually no parent volunteers.  Our All Students Matter volunteers work once a week for about an hour on reading and math skills with kids in grades K-4.  Sign up now to start in September. We provide training and coordinate everything. An hour per week could change a student's life.

To learn more or sign up, visit www.allstudentsmatter.org or contact Jeanette Kennedy or Keri Tully.

Splash into Water Polo This Spring!

Mid Peninsula Water Polo's spring session is open for enrollment! New M-A coach Brandon Johnson is leading these age group sessions to teach kids fundamentals of the game.  Emphasis is on fun and learning to play!  Water polo is a great sport.  Brandon is a three time All-American, played at UC Irvine and professionally in Australia and is just assuming head coach duties at Menlo-Atherton High School.  Do not have to be going to M-A to join. 

Dates: February 22 to May 8 (12 weeks), no practice April 3-10 (spring break)
Times: Tuesday, 6:00pm to 7:30pm, Sunday, 1:30am to 1:00pm 
Location: M-A High School Pool Middle School 
Fee: $400

Young Inklings Book Contest

Submit your story or poem to the 2016 Inklings Book Contest! Any 1st-8th grader can submit, and all contestants will receive positive, personalized feedback on their writing. Winners will receive an editorial mentorship and will be professionally published in the Inklings Book. Visit www.younginklings.org for more information.